Republican US House Speaker John Boehner has turned down a White House invitation to attend a state dinner this week in honor of Chinese President Hu Jintao, his office confirmed Tuesday.

Asked why Boehner had opted to skip the glitzy and highly symbolic Wednesday event, Boehner spokesman Michael Steel replied: "Speaker Boehner will have a substantive meeting with President Hu later this week."

Steel declined to elaborate, but Republicans have been critical of President Barack Obama's decision to hold a state dinner for Hu at a time when Washington has been sharply critical of Beijing's record on human rights.